Killarney U18 girls continue winning streak

Killarney 38-07 Bantry/Skibereen

Report by Diarmuid O’Malley, Photos Courtest of Anne Gabbett and Liam Murphy

The Killarney U18s Girls rugby team continued their 100% league record with a convincing home win verus Bantry/Skibereen, at Aghadoe last Saturday.

Inside the first three minutes Killarney opened the scoring with a pick from the back of a scrum by the powerful Killarney  number eight Ava O Malley who managed to get over in the corner which was duly converted by the Fia Whelan.

Next to score was Molly Jenkins after another strong carry by the Killarney number eight, from right in the corner  it was converted by the  Killarney centre Bronagh Dorrian, for an amazing kick which was recorded and has since  gone viral on social media.

For the rest of the half, Killarney didn’t have it all there own way, the west Cork side showed lots of intent in particular from their  pack, they managed to breach the killarney whitewash for a try of there own. Almost immediately Killarney responded and next up to score was Niamh Dorrian from a well executed pre planned move.

After some great interplay by the killarney back line Katie O Donoghue made a  swerving run and was just tacked before the line but on hand after a brilliant offload by O Donoghue was Cromane’s Lilly Morris for a fabulous score under the post which was again converted by Bronagh Dorrian. Fia Whelan and Ali O Donoghue then got in on the try scoring act to put the result out of reach from the gallant Bantry/Skibereen side. To cap off a memorable performance the Beaufort flyer Maria Eagar finished off a great score after some fabulous interplay by Robyn Landers, Olivia Gaffey, Clodagh Foley and Molly Gabbett.

Josh Whelan the Killarney Co-coach added “what was most pleasing about this game wasn’t the quality of the scoring, some of which, were breathtaking, but it was the girls offensive structure, we have worked a lot at training to keep our formations and keep the girl’s running straight as opposed to drifting, which we did a lot of in our last game: these girls have an appetite to work and to look to improve and I’ve no doubt if they keep on training hard, we will continue to make progress as a team”

Killarney  U14, U16s and U18s girls train on a Wednesday night at 7pm, and the U12s girls and below train on a Saturday morning at 10.30am all in the fantastic setting of Aghadoe. Everyone is welcome to come up and give rugby a try, just simply pop up to training and ask for the relevant age group where you will be made to feel most welcome. The first step is always the hardest coming in and starting a new sport but once that first step is made it’s the start of a journey which will keep girls active, and build life long friends.

The Killarney team from last Saturday was:

1. Lilly Morris (joint captain)
2. Molly Gabbitt
3. Emer O Keefe
4. Becci Fleming
5. Olivia Gaffey
6. Katie O Donoghue
7. Clodagh Foley
8. Ava O Malley
9. Robyn Lander
10. Fia Whelan (joint captain)
11. Niamh Dorrian
12. Bronagh Dorrian
13. Ali O Donoghue
14. Molly Jenkins
15.  Marina Eagar
16. Cara O Connell
17.  Ellen Considine

Coaches: Diarmuid O’Malley, Josh Whelan, Liam Murphy.
Manager: Jenna Moynihan